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Thursday, 21 March 2013

PRINCE ARTHUR: 1486-1502

Prince
Arthur was the oldest son of Henry VII, the first Tudor king, who erected the tomb
to contain his son’s body after his death at the age of only 15. Arthur was
married to Catherine of Aragon, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain.
Catherine was to become Henry VIII’s wife after Arthur’s death.

Prince Arthur's Chantry Chapel. Photograph is reproduced by permission of the Dean and Chapter of Worcester Cathedral (U.K.)

Arthur
was born in the castle at Winchester
to Elizabeth of York, his father Henry VII being the former Lancastrian
claimant to the throne. It was hoped that the birth of Arthur, as son of both
factions in the Wars of the Roses, would end the bitter rivalry. As a child,
Arthur had many titles and duties thrust upon him and even became Regent while
his father was away in France.
He was Prince of Wales and Lord of the Marches
and with his Council was responsible for keeping the peace in Wales and along
the borders. He often went with his parents on visits to the border country and
went to Shrewsbury
and Worcester,
and with his grandmother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, probably visited Malvern. LudlowCastle
became one of his official homes, with his Council.

The tomb of Prince Arthur Tudor. Photograph is reproduced by permission of the Dean and Chapter of Worcester Cathedral (U.K.)

His
formal education followed a typical Renaissance classical pattern. He studied
Latin and Greek grammar and the great Latin and Greek authors, in between and
during his travels and other duties.

A stained glass window of Prince Arthur in the Cathedral near the Chapel. Photograph is reproduced by permission of the Dean and Chapter of Worcester Cathedral (U.K.)

Arthur’s
marriage to Catherine was considered to be vital. An alliance between Spain and Britain would
bring trade to Britain
and also help to diffuse some of France’s dangerous power. Proxy
ceremonies of betrothal and marriage were held while the two children were very
young. When Catherine arrived in England she was “welcomed by the
whole people”. They were married in St
Paul’s Cathedral when both of them were just fifteen. The prince and princess
were to spend their honeymoon in LudlowCastle. However Arthur
caught a fever and was too delicate to recover from it. He was dead within five
months.

The Tudor Rose and the Prince of Wales's badge carved on the Chapel. Photograph is reproduced by permission of the Dean and Chapter of Worcester Cathedral (U.K.)

Arthur
is said to have been a gentle prince, in total contrast to his younger brother
Henry. His tragic death was mourned by all and after lying in state for three
weeks at LudlowCastle, the body was transported to LudlowChurch
where masses were sung. Three days later the cortege set out for Worcester where the body
was placed on a magnificent bier. The next day a long series of funeral
services began It is said that the corpse was laid in the
grave “with weeping and sore lamentation”.

Henry
VII had the beautiful Chantry Chapel built to be Arthur’s final resting place
and also to be a place set aside for prayers for Prince Arthur’s soul.

Giving you an idea of the height of the Chapel raised above two medieval tombs. Photograph is reproduced by permission of the Dean and Chapter of Worcester Cathedral (U.K.)

From
the death of Arthur came the marriage of Catherine to Henry, the divorce and
Henry VIII’s subsequent quarrel with the Pope. The history of England might
have been very different had Arthur lived to ascend the throne.